Abstract: A tire localization system for locating the position of a tire of a vehicle having five or more wheels, includes a number of tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) wheel modules of a vehicle TPMS, each wheel module being attached to each one of the wheels or a tire thereof, respectively. Each TPMS wheel module includes a radio, frequency identification (RFID) reader. The system further includes a number of RFID tags, each RFID tag being associated with and storing wheel position information of one of the wheels, and each RFID tag being positioned externally of its associated wheel. Each of the RFID readers is arranged, upon activation, to interrogate its associated RFID tag, and the associated RFID tag is arranged, upon interrogation, to transmit its stored position information to the RFID reader for transmission by the TPMS wheel module to a central control unit. A tire localization method is also provided.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention relates to a variable capacitor that operates without moving mechanical parts. In this capacitor electrically conductive electrodes are separated by an enclosed chamber filled with an electrically conductive material. The electrically conductive material can freely vary its position within the chamber. The capacitance of the device will vary as position of the conductive material changes due to external mechanical motion (ex: rotation vibration, etc.) of the device. Other embodiments of this device are also disclosed.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention relates to a variable capacitor that operates without moving mechanical parts. In this capacitor electrically conductive electrodes are separated by an enclosed chamber filled with an electrically conductive material. The electrically conductive material can freely vary its position within the chamber. The capacitance of the device will vary as position of the conductive material changes due to external mechanical motion (ex: rotation, vibration, etc.) of the device. Other embodiments of this device are also disclosed.

Abstract: A mechanical switch is arranged to electrically connect a power source to an electrical component. The switch includes a resilient structure, a first electrically conductive element connected to the power source and a second conductive element connected to the electrical component. At least one of the conductive elements is attached to the resilient structure. The switch is arranged such that the conductive elements are positioned out of contact with one another in the absence of a force being applied to the switch, and the resilient structure is moveable in response to a force applied thereto, the force being applied upon rotation of a tire to which the switch is connected. Upon the application of a force above a predetermined threshold, the resilient structure moves to bring the conductive elements into contact with one another, the contact electrically connecting the power source to the electrical component.

Abstract: A mechanical switch is arranged to electrically connect a power source to an electrical component. The switch includes a resilient structure, a first electrically conductive element connected to the power source and a second conductive element connected to the electrical component. At least one of the conductive elements is attached to the resilient structure. The switch is arranged such that the conductive elements are positioned out of contact with one another in the absence of a force being applied to the switch, and the resilient structure is moveable in response to a force applied thereto, the force being applied upon rotation of a tire to which the switch is connected. Upon the application of a force above a predetermined threshold, the resilient structure moves to bring the conductive elements into contact with one another, the contact electrically connecting the power source to the electrical component.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention relates to a variable capacitor that operates without moving mechanical parts. In this capacitor electrically conductive electrodes are separated by an enclosed chamber filled with an electrically conductive material. The electrically conductive material can freely vary its position within the chamber. The capacitance of the device will vary as position of the conductive material changes due to external mechanical motion (ex: rotation vibration, etc.) of the device. Other embodiments of this device are also disclosed.

Abstract: A tire localization system for locating the position of a tire of a vehicle having five or more wheels, includes a number of tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) wheel modules of a vehicle TPMS, each wheel module being attached to each one of the wheels or a tire thereof, respectively. Each TPMS wheel module includes a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader. The system further includes a number of RFID tags, each RFID tag being associated with and storing wheel position information of one of the wheels, and each RFID tag being positioned externally of its associated wheel. Each of the RFID readers is arranged, upon activation, to interrogate its associated RFID tag, and the associated RFID tag is arranged, upon interrogation, to transmit its stored position information to the RFID reader for transmission by the TPMS wheel module to a central control unit. A tire localization method is also provided.

Abstract: A sensor for measuring mechanical changes in length, in particular a compressive and/or tensile stress sensor, includes a sandwich system with two flat and superposed electrodes separated from each other by a tunnel element (tunnel barrier), in particular an oxide barrier, a current being set up between the electrodes and through the tunnel barrier, one electrode consisting of a magnetostrictive layer 3 which responds to elongation, and wherein the contributions of the anisotropies caused by mechanical tension are larger than those from the intrinsic anisotropies, relative changes in system resistance ?R/R larger than 10% at room temperature being attained during elongation.

Abstract: A sensor device having a magnetostrictive force sensor is provided. To detect a force, the sensor device contains a TMR force sensor element having a magnetic detection layer of material having a magnetostriction coefficient ??|5·10?6|, a magnetically harder reference layer, and a tunnel barrier disposed between these layers. Established in the detection layer is a starting magnetization that relative to the magnetization of the reference layer, which is directed in the direction of force, forms an angle of other than 0° and thus is rotated out of its starting position under the effect of the force.

Abstract: A sensor device having a magnetostrictive force sensor is provided. To detect a force, the sensor device contains a TMR force sensor element having a magnetic detection layer of material having a magnetostriction coefficient &lgr;≧|5·10−6|, a magnetically harder reference layer, and a tunnel barrier disposed between these layers. Established in the detection layer is a starting magnetization that relative to the magnetization of the reference layer, which is directed in the direction of force, forms an angle of other than 0° and thus is rotated out of its starting position under the effect of the force.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sensor measuring mechanical changes in length, in particular to a compressive and/or tensile stress sensor, comprising a sandwich system with two flat and superposed electrodes separated from each other by a tunnel element (tunnel barrier), in particular an oxide barrier, a current being set up between said electrodes and through the tunnel barrier, one electrode consisting of a magnetostrictive layer 3 which responds to elongation, and wherein the contributions of the anisotropies caused by mechanical tension are larger than those from the intrinsic anisotropies, relative changes in system resistance &Dgr;R/R larger than 10% at room temperature being attained during elongation.